Trading sounds hard to a lot of people. Professionals devise complicated algorithms, computerised models with thousands of inputs, or they work on charts with different indicators feeding into a complex buying or selling processes. Here’s the truth: Markets are actually not hard to understand.

What we are starting to see is a mid-cycle peak. Phil explains that this has happened all throughout history. But most people are likely to mistake it for a market top. When, in reality, it may only be a half-way point.

Central banks have blown the biggest bubble in history. History shows us that ALL bubbles eventually find a pin. The looming collapse of the financial system will come as a huge surprise to many people. They’ve been conditioned to believe central banks can solve all problems. Nothing could be further from the truth. They are the creators of problems.

The future of money is here. And global markets are getting ready to place their bets. This Sunday, bitcoin’s legitimacy will soar to a new level. The CBOE Group Inc. launches the first cryptocurrency futures contract on Sunday night. The bitcoin market is about to get a whole more interesting.

All investors today have known — at least, most of those who are under 70 years old — is rising bond prices and falling yields. Investors haven’t noticed yet, but the water is already rushing onto their feet. Bond yields are going up; prices are going down. And it’s still better to sell at a top than a bottom. Sell stocks and bonds. Buy gold…and maybe, just for fun…a little bitcoin.

It’s likely that the two largest money managers will continue to get bigger. I’m talking about BlackRock, Inc. [NYSE:BLK] and Vanguard. Both collectively manage close to US$10 trillion. But it could double…yes double, by 2025.

Sunday, 10 December. Make a note of that day in your diary now. Why? Something big is happening on that day. CBOE Global Markets Inc. will become the first exchange in the world to offer futures on cryptocurrencies. The largest futures exchange in the world, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, will make its debut a week later on 18 December. You know what this tells you? The big money has found its way into cryptos.

There is something strange afoot in the markets. I couldn’t tell you what it is. But markets are screaming ahead with no real reason as to why they should be. On the flip side, the crypto market is still only worth US$200 billion. It turns out the ‘big boys in the bubble’ can’t touch it yet. But you can.

With only a month left in the year, it seems bitcoin and other cryptos don’t have any intention of putting on the brakes. And after all the insane gains and volatile movements of 2017, we are left with two extremely polarised streams of thought.

We are not robots — and because many of us want both growth and value — many stock portfolios bear little resemblance to the way we are supposed to invest. For those of us looking for income out of the stock market, it can be a trap to worry too much about investing styles.

Had you put your money in China this year, you would’ve left us all in the dust. The Hang Seng Index is up more than 33% this year. House prices have climbed so high that the government has been forced to step up financial regulation.

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Just thought I would let you know that whilst I receive countless financial emails daily I view yours as something special. I am not looking for the same old humdrum I am looking for news that is out of left field. Now you guys would be off the planet if you went any further left but it is refreshingly different. I get through the humdrum first and get my mind sorted and save you for last as a check. It is certainly an insane moment in time but I am still finding investment opportunities. Thanks for your comments